Rastafarian English is a dialect spoken mainly by Rastafarian Jamaicans. This language is much easier to learn than Jamaican patois because it is based on English terms and is not too different a dialect. The Rastafarian movement, which began in 1930 in Jamaica, is based on positive principles such as unity, peace and love. The Rastafarian language reflects all these concepts.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Learn Basic Rastafarian Words
Step 1. Understand the pronunciation
The Rastafarian language survives only as a spoken idiom, so pronunciation is really important when trying to express yourself in this dialect.
- The letter "h" is not pronounced as it is in English words. For this reason the term "thanks" becomes "tanks", "three" becomes "tree" and so on.
- Likewise, the group "th" is not pronounced. The word "the" becomes "di", "them" becomes "dem" and "that" becomes "dat".
Step 2. Learn the use of the expression "I and I"
In Rastafarian it is pronounced as "eye an 'eye" and it is a very important term. In fact, it refers to the communion of Jah (the equivalent of "God", the Ethiopian emperor Ras Tafari Haile Selassie I) in every person. "I and I" is an expression that reinforces the Rastafarian belief that Jah exists in every individual and that all people exist as one people united in Jah.
- "I and I" is used to replace the words "you and I" in a sentence. For example: “And I going to de concert”. This phrase means that you and someone else are about to go to a concert.
- However, you can use this expression when talking about something you will do on your own or as an abbreviation for: "me, myself, and I". For example: “I and I going to de concert”. With this sentence you are saying that you are going to the concert alone.
- The pronoun "I" is also used for English puns such as "I man" which means "inner man" ie the Rastafarian believer. Rastas also say "Inity" instead of "unity".
Step 3. Learn how to say hello with “hello”, “good bye” (goodbye) and how to say thank you with “thank you”
Most Rastafarians do not use some terms typical of the English language, because they believe they have a malignant connotation. For example, the word "hello" is not pronounced because it contains the words "hell" and "lo" which can be confused with "low".
- To say "hello" (hi), use the expression: "Wa gwaan" or "Yes I".
- To say "good bye", say "Me a go" or "Lickle bit".
- To thank (thank you), say: "Give thanks" or "Praise Jah".
Step 4. Understand the meaning of the words "rasta" "Jah Jah" and "dread"
Rastafarians refer to themselves and other people of the same religion as "Rasta".
- "Jah Jah" is used to praise Jah or to name him. For example: “Jah Jah protect mi fram mi enemy dem” which means: “Jehovah protect me from my enemies”.
- The term "dread" indicates the hairstyle of the dreadlocks that Rastafarians wear as a sign of spiritual practice. This word is also used to refer to a Rastafarian individual or something that is seen as a positive influence.
- For example: "Dread, mon" means "Cool, man" that is the colloquial exclamation "Wow cool, friend!". If a person turns to you saying: "Natty dread" this is the equivalent of the appreciation "You are strong!" or "You're a cool guy!"
- A person who does not have dreadlocks is called a "ball head", a pun for "bald head". For example, Bob Marley in his song "Crazy Baldheads" says: "Wi guh chase dem crazy Ball head outta town". Translated into English it would be: "We gonna chase those crazy people without dreads out of town" and in Italian "We'll chase those crazy people without dreads out of town".
Step 5. Learn very common Rastafarian words like “Babylon”, “politricks” and “irie”
These are key terms that refer to very important concepts of Rastafarian culture.
- "Babylon" is the term for the police which, according to Rastafarians, is the corrupt part of the government system. The word refers to the biblical event of the rebellion of human beings against God that was perpetrated through the construction of the Tower of Babel; it can also be used to describe any person or organization that oppresses an innocent person.
- Example: "Babylon deh cum, yuh hav nutten pan yuh?" In English it would be: "The police are coming, do you have anything on you?" that is "The police are on their way, are you wearing something (compromising)?"
- "Politricks" is the Rastafarian term for "politics". There is a general skepticism towards the authorities, including politicians. For this reason they are referred to as cheaters and scammers. In fact, politricks is a neologism composed of politic (political) and trick (trick, deception).
- "Irie" is one of the most important terms in Rastafarianism. It embodies the positive aspect of Rastafarian culture and the belief that "everyting irie" that is "everything is alright".
- For example, the sentence "Mi nuh have nutten fi complain bout, mi life irie" in English would be: "I don't have anything to complain about, my life is good").
Step 6. Understand the words for "man" (man) and "woman" (woman)
The central idea of the Rastafarians is unity and communion among all individuals. For this reason, Rastas refer to people as their "Idren", an abbreviation of the English "children".
- A boy is called "bwoy" (boy) by the Rastas. A girl (girl) instead is addressed with "gal". If a Rasta asks another about his children, then he will use the term "pickney" or "gal pickney".
- Adult males are "bredren". Adult women are "sistren".
- A Rasta man speaks of his wife or girlfriend as his "empress" (empress) or "queen" (queen). For example: "My cyaah cum tomorrow, mi a guh spen sum time wid mi empress" This sentence in English would be: "I can't come tomorrow, I'm going to spend time with my girlfriend" I will spend the day with my girlfriend).
Step 7. Learn the use of negative and positive words
Rastas replace words that have a negative connotation like "down" or "under" with other words like "up" or "out". Here are some examples:
- Rastas will say "downpression" instead of "oppression" (oppression). This is because the sound "op" indicates the term "up" so "oppression" would be a contradiction while "downpression" expresses the concept of something / someone pushing another down.
- The words "overstanding" or "innerstanding" are used instead of "understanding" since "under" has a negative connotation that clashes with the meaning of the term.
- Rastas use the word "outernational" instead of "international". This clearly expresses their feeling that the rest of the world is out of the Rastafarian reality or world.
Step 8. Learn Rastafarian swear words
There are some unique sounding swear words in this language and they usually refer to bodily functions or damage.
- "Fiyah bun" is an expression that is used to forcefully condemn someone or something.
- For example: "Fiyah bun babylon kaaz dem eva deh taament people" Translated into English the phrase would be: "I denounce the police because they are always tormenting poor people".
- "Bag or wire" is a term that refers to a "traitor". The word comes from the betrayal by a close friend of the black politician Marcus Garvey who spread details about his escape plan.
- Example: “Mi nuh truss deh bredren deh kaaz him a bag o wire”. In English: "I don't trust that man because he is a traitor" (don't trust that man because he is a traitor).
- "Bumba clot" or "Rass clot" are very strong curse words. "Clot" is considered a really bad sounding word and is linked to the verb "to clout" (to hit) or "to hit or strike". It also refers to a used tampon, that's where the unsightly connotation comes from.
Part 2 of 3: Learn Basic Rastafarian Phrases
Step 1. Practice saying "what's up"
If a Rastafarian meets a friend on the street, he greets him by saying: "Bredren, wa gwaan?"
The friend might reply: "Bwai, ya done know seh mi deya gwaan easy" which means: "" I'm here just taking it easy "(I'm fine, I'm quiet here)
Step 2. Learn to ask someone where they come from
If you want to ask a person where he was born in Rastafarian language then you have to say: "A weh ya baan?"
The other Rasta might reply: "Mi baan inna Kingston" that is "I was born in Kingston" (I was born in Kingston)
Step 3. Learn how to say “see you later”
A Rasta would end a light conversation with a friend with the phrase:
- "Yeh man, lickle more, seen?" Translated into English: “Ok see you later” (ok, see you later).
- The friend could in turn say: "Lickle more" which is equivalent to "For sure, see you later" (of course, see you later).
- Here is an example of a Rastafarian conversation:
- "Bredrin, wa gwaan?"
- "Bwai, ya done know seh mi deya gwaan easy".
- "Yes I, a so it go still. Not 'n na gwaan, but we a keep di faith, nuh true?"
- "True. How de pickney dem stay?"
- "Bwai, dem arigh".
- "Yeh man, lickle more, seen?"
- "Lickle more".
- The English translation would be:
- "What 's up, man?" (Hi, what are you up to?)
- "Not much, just taking it easy".
- "Yeah, that 's how it is. Times are hard but we have to keep the faith, isn't that right?" (Yeah, that's how it goes now. Times are tough but we have to have faith, right?)
- "Yeah. How are your kids?" (True. How are your children?)
- "They're alright".
- "Great, see you later".
- "See you later" (See you later).
Part 3 of 3: Understanding Rastafarian Culture
Step 1. Know the history of this language
This originated from the Rastafarian social and religious movement which was based in Jamaica. Although rather disorganized, Rastafarians are united by several strong beliefs:
- They believe in the beauty of the African heritage of the black people.
- They believe that Ras Tafari Haile Selassie I, the emperor of Ethiopia, is the biblical messiah. He is also referred to as the Conqueror Lion of the Tribe of Judah. That is why the lion is considered the symbol of power.
- They believe in the homeland return to Ethiopia that the Rastas call "Zion", the true home and redemption for the black people.
- They believe in the fall of "Babylon" (Babylon), the corrupt world of the white man and the overthrow of the positions of slave and master.
Step 2. Recognize what are the main sources of knowledge for the Rastafarian movement
The Bible is the sacred text par excellence. This is why, for example, Bob Marley's songs are full of biblical references to the Exodus and the Promised Land.
- Rastas take Bible study very seriously, they quote and discuss many passages. They believe the scriptures tell the true story of the black man. They are also convinced that the ministers of the Christian church have deceived people by giving wrong interpretations of the Bible and that they have used it to justify slavery.
- There are other official documents of Rasta culture: The Promised Key and The Living Testament of Rasta-for-I. However, most scholars agree that there is no central Rastafarian doctrine since, in principle, Rastas are opposed to following an organized system or schools of thought. On the contrary, they believe that the individual should undertake to reflect and interpret the world on the basis of his own experience and form his own beliefs about the Rastafarian belief.
Step 3. Learn the importance of "I-tal"
The word "I-tal" is used to indicate food in its natural state. "I-tal" is a food that has not been contaminated by modern chemicals, does not contain preservatives, seasonings or salt.
- Most Rastas follow a diet based on "I-tal" and some are vegetarians. Rastas who eat meat usually avoid pork as this animal is considered a necrophage.
- Alcohol, milk, coffee and flavored drinks are all considered non "I-tal" foods.
- You can often hear a rasta say: "Man a rasta man, mi only nyam ital food". The translation of this sentence into English is: "I am a Rastafarian, I only eat natural foods" (I am Rastafarian and I only eat natural foods).
Step 4. Understand the role of marijuana in Rastafarian culture
We are all well aware of the classic image of the Rasta with dreads smoking a joint or "herb" as it is called in Rastafarian. In addition to making people feel "irie", smoking marijuana or "ganja" is fundamental in Rastafarian life; it is considered a sacred rite.
For Rastas, the “holy herb” has a high value due to its physical, psychological and therapeutic effects
Step 5. Become aware of the concept of "everliving life"
Rastas are convinced that life is endless, so they don't use the term “everlasting” where the “last” portion of the term (last / final) has a negative connotation. They do not believe in the end of life but in an existence that is transformed but which is immortal.
This does not necessarily mean that Rastas believe they live forever, but they consider the term "everlasting life" a negative expression that contrasts with the fullness of life itself
Advice
- Listen to reggae music from artists such as Bob Marley and the Wailers, Pato Banton, Patra and Damian Marley. This allows you to get used to the Rastafarian pronunciation and culture. Pay special attention to the texts and try to recognize some basic words and phrases.
- There are video lessons and recordings online that help you learn Rastafarian. Since it is a spoken language, it helps to listen to Jamaicans pronounce it to learn the tone and rhythm of the words.
Warnings
- Some Jamaicans who hear you speak Rastafarian will consider you a person who poses, especially if you are white. Try using this language with some Jamaicans in a typical bar or place and evaluate the reactions of those present. Remember that they may also take offense and consider your attempt to speak Rastafarian as an insult. So be prepared to be teased even if, in most cases, it will be good-natured mockery.
- Alternatively, you can test your Rastafarian English with an available Jamaican friend.
